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TJ Dillashaw has a bold version of UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Undefeated Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is coming off back-to-back knockouts in title fights against featherweight greats Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 and Max Holloway at UFC 308.
For Dillashaw, Topuria isn’t just the best boxer in the UFC.
“I think Topuria is the best fighter in the UFC right now,” Dillashaw said on the JAXXON Podcast.
Pound for pound over Jon Jones?
“I mean, not from the resume, no,” Dillashaw replied. “But aside from his abilities, yes.”
Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) is currently ranked No. 2 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, while Topuria is ranked No. 4. Dillashaw, a former two-time UFC bantamweight champion, was asked how he would have approached Topuria if the two had ever fought. He admits that it would be difficult for him.
“It’s going to be a tough fight, dude,” Dillashaw said. “He’s a badass. I would have hoped Holloway would use a few more angles, right? Never put yourself in front of the guy. He’s fast, his boxing is crisp. I would try to get over his shoulders” to try to change my stance.
“Fight him orthodox and right wing. I would definitely use my kicks a lot more often. Yes, he can block kicks, but it keeps him at a longer distance, right when I set up my kicks. Yeah, I would definitely try to wrestle him.” I would say his striking is more dangerous than his grappling, but his grappling is great too.
Topuria has recently hinted at a possible move up to lightweight, where he made one appearance at UFC Fight Night 204 in March 2022, scoring a thunderous knockout over Jai Herbert.
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: TJ Dillashaw: Ilia Topuria, best fighter in UFC, more skilled than Jon Jones
